BUDAPEST, Hungary — Croatia's economy minister has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for causing a traffic accident in Hungary in 2010 in which two people were killed and two injured.

According to Wednesday's ruling by an appeals court in the southern Hungarian city of Kaposvar, Radimir Cacic can be paroled after serving half the sentence.

Cacic's lawyer, Peter Zamecsnik, told Hungarian state newswire MTI that he was surprised by the verdict but said his client would respect the decision. Cacic was not present to hear his fate.

In June, Cacic, who is also a deputy prime minister, was given a 3-year suspended sentence, but the verdict was appealed by both the prosecution and the defense.

On Jan. 8, 2010, Cacic crashed into another car at great speed on Hungary's M7 highway.